Door check and closer



Feb. 28, 1950 J. 'HINES 7 2,498,758

DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER Filed July 29, 1946 3 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 Mi. iz'

F I INVENTOR 74 ATTORNEY Feb. 28, 1950 J. HINES DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July. 29, 1946 d INVENTOR ATTORNEY Feb. 28, 1950 J. HINES DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Filed July 29, 1946 Patented Feb. 28, 1950 DOOR CHECK AND- GLQSERw John Hines, South Norwalk, Conn, assignor, by

mesne assignments; to Reconstruction Finance Corporation, New. York, N; 2., a corporation of the UnitedStates A plication July 29, 1946,.Serial No. 686,804

(C1 lit -52) 1-2 Claims.

The subject matter of this invention is a door check adapted to be employed with either a right or left hand swinging door. In door checks of the type alluded to a flat band clock spring is employed. This spring is normally expandedor unwound and winds up when the door isopened when utilized in connection with either a right or left hand swinging door. Where the door check was assembled for a'right hand swinging door and where it was desired to employ 'itin connection with a left hand swinging door, it was necessary to disassemble the door check, reverse the clock spring and thereafter reassemble the door check. A similar reversal of theclock spring was required in the matter of rendering effective the door check if assembled for a left hand swinging door forits conversion to a rig-ht hand swinging door. One object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved door check requiring no disassembly or reassembly in the matter of converting the door check from a right hand swinging door to a left hand swinging door and vice versa. Another important object is to provide a serviceable door check adapted to beutilized for either a right or left hand-swinging door without need of reversing the clock spring. A further object is to severally utilize both ends ofthe clock spring in" themed-'- ter of winding up the clock spring-,"th at' is, in

one instance this spring would'be wound up from the innermost convolution and in another instance the spring would'bewound up from the outermost convolution. Another object resides in the provision of superimposed discs having means adapted to be selectively driven by a driving disc rotated when the door is swung open counter clockwise for a right hand-swinging door or clockwise for aleft hand swinging door, the-driving disc being common to the selectively driven-superimposed discs and in turn is actuated by the ratchet means rotated through the action of a swingable dog carried by a swin'gable arm responsive to the opening of the door. Another object is to provide means for retarding the unwinding or'recoilof th spring on closing of the door. Other essential objects, features, and functional and structural advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed specification taken with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the door check according to my invention mountedon aright'hand swinging door.

Fig. 1A is a view taken on thglihe'lA-IA of Fig. l.

Fig; '2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the door check mounted on a left hand swinging door;

Fig. 3"is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3"-3' of Fig; 1'.

Fig. 4' is-a sectional view on the line 1-4 of Fig. 3'. Fig: 5' is a'plan view exhibiting the cover for thehousing of. the (1001" check broken awayto illustrate the internal construction depicting the doorcheck in a neutral position.

Fig. 6 isa Viewsimilar to Fig, 5 illustrating the action of the driving discon a companion driven disc at a time when a right hand swinging dooris' opened for winding up the clock spring from its innermost convolution.

Fig.7 is a sectional view on the-line 1'l' of Fig; 3'.

Fig; 8 is a view similar torig; 5 but showing thea'ction of a rotatable driving disc on another companion driven disc during-openingof a left handswin'gin'g door.

Fig; 9 isa horizontal sectional view of Fig. '7, out illustrating "theclo'ck spring winding up from its outermostconvolutionduring openin of a left'han'd swinging door;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the ratchet. Fig. ll 'is-a" perspective View of the; driving disc;

Fig: 1- 2'is a perspective and broken view of the door check driven shaft.

Fig. 1'3is a; perspective-viewof the driven-"disc actuated by the driving disc on -openii'ig of" a right hand swinging door;

Fig. 14. is a perspective view of the rotatable sleeveor bushing for winding up the clock spring from its innermost convolution, and

Fig. 15 is a perspective view-of the-driven disc for winding up the clock' spring on opening of a left hands'win'ging door.

Illustrative of the embodiment disclosed the door check generally denoted DCis appropriately mounted on a bracket B desirably fastened to the jar'nb' or frame J" for the swinging door D. As

shown in Fig. 1, the hinge H for the door is on the outside and to the right of the operator when the latter is facing the door. Thus when the operator opens thedoor from the outside, the door swings from left to right. Such type of opening may for purposes of description, be considered as a right hand. opening or swinging door. 'In-Fig. 2; hinge H is at the left of the operator when the-latter is on the outside of the door and such type of door may be considered as a left hand opening or swinging door. In either case,

a lever L is appropriately swiveled to a bracket id suitably fastened to the door. Lever L is hinged at II to the swinging arm 42 provided with a hub 53 (Fig. 4) appropriately fastened or keyed to shaft S having its lower reduced end l4 journalled in the bearing I5 of a conventional hydraulic or oil filled inverted T-shaped cylinder C comprising housing I-IH.

Fastened to shaft S is the pinion G in mesh with a conventional and reciprocable rack R of a double acting piston or plunger (not shown) within cylinder C having an internally threaded annular flange It cooperating with the externally threaded portion I? of a conventional packing gland broadly designated I8 also rotatably guiding shaft S. By the present arrangement, it follows that if door D be swung open, shaft S is rotated relative to the packing gland l8 and the housing HE and when the door is closed shaft S is rotated in a counter direction. The construction so far described is well known in the art.

Freely rotatable on shaft S is the ratchet adapted to be actuated by the pawl or dog 2i s'wiveled or hinged to the swingable arm [2. If therefore pawl 2i is selectively thrown in mesh with ratchet 20, the latter is rotated in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 6) as would be the case for a right hand hung door or in a clockwise direction (Fig. 8) in the case of a left hand swinging door. In either case the pawl 2! in order to be effective is initially thrown to be in advance of the arm l2 in the direction of its rotation. Ratchet 26 is provided with a cylindrical portion 22 rotatably guided in bearing 23 of the cover 23 fixedly but removably carried by the housing HH.

Depending from the cylindrical portion 22 is the hollow non-circular lug or ke 24 removably fitting into a correspondingly shaped opening 25 of a driving disc DD provided with a depending and driving lug 26 common to and closely straddled by or interposed in the neutral position of the door check between the driven and depending lug 27 of the left hand or clockwise driven disc LI) and the horizontal lug or ear 28 of the right hand or counterclockwise driven disc RD (Figs. 4 and 5).

Seated on the upper part of the packing gland is and rotatably surrounding shaft S is the hollow and cylindrical bushing or sleeve 30 provided with the reentrant slot 3 l.

Integral with bushing 30 is the square shaped boss or key 32 removably but closely receiving the correspondingly shaped opening 33 of the right hand or counterclockwise driven disc RD seated on annular shoulder 30 at the upper part of the bushing 39.

Extending upwardly from boss 32 and integral therewith is the hollow cylindrical or annular bearing or guide collar 34 rotatably receiving the wall of the circular opening 35 of the left hand driven disc LD removably seated on boss or key 32.

Surrounding bushing 30 and interposed between disc RD and gland is although in part seated on the latter is the relatively fiat spiral band or clock spring BS having its innermost convolution 36 provided with a hook 3'1 anchored or desirably retained in the reentrant slot 3! of the bushing 30.

The outer convolution 38 of the band spring BS is provided with an offset terminal or hook 3-39 anchored to or interlocking with the laterally extending and offset fingers 40 of the depending lug 21 of the left hand driven disc LD.

By the herein arrangement the inner end of the band spring BS may be said to be hooked onto the rotatable bushing or sleeve 3!] while the outer end of the band spring is hooked onto the depending lug 2'1 and more particularl the spaced fingers 40 thereof.

Normally the band spring BS is expanded or unwound and is held in such expanded relation by the retaining ring 4! disposed in part in the recess 32 (Fig. 4) defined by the offset fingers 4B or in other words the vertically spaced fingers 40 of depending lug 2? straddle the retaining ring to maintain the latter in a located position about the outer convolution 38 of the band spring BS.

If it be assumed the door check DC is mounted on a right hand swinging door as illustrated in Fig. l, the lever 12 is swung counterclockwise when the door is opened as indicated by arrow 43. Consequently shaft S is also driven or rotated counterclockwise upon opening of the door. However prior to opening of the door the driving lug 26 of disc DD (Fig. 4) is between lug 28 of disc RD and the depending lug 21 of the disc LD, the band spring BS is expanded, and both of the lugs 27 and 28 are urged by the band spring BS against the radially extending internally disposed boss or projection 4d of the hollow housing I-IH. In other words, the door check is in a neutral relation as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Once the door is opened, pawl 21 carried by the swinging arm l2 rotates the ratchet 20. For a right hand swing door, ratchet 2c is driven counterclockwise. Since the driving disc DD is locked or keyed to the ratchet, the latter is also driven counterclockwise. It follows that ear or lug 28 of the driven disc RD is rotatably displaced in a counterclockwise direction at which time however depending lug 2'! of disc LD is abutting the stop or boss 4 5.

If disc RD is driven counterclockwise, sleeve or bushing 3i! is also driven in a corresponding direction relative to shaft S in that the squared shaped boss 32 of the sleeve is locked within the squared shaped opening 33 of disc RD.

Rotation of bushing 30 in a counterclockwise direction causes nose 36 (Fig. 7) of bushing 30 to drive hook 3'! of the innermost convolution of the band or clock spring BS and consequently the latter winds up, that is, the band spring BS is tensioned by winding the latter from the inside until the door is fully swung open but during such operation depending lug 2? of disc LD is always'abutting boss M (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) due to the action of spring BS.

In case the door check DC is mounted on a left hand hung door (Fig. 2) and if the door be closed, the check is again in a neutral position as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. But the pawl 21 (Fig. 5) must first be thrown to be in advance of the swinging arm I2 (Fig. 8). On opening of the door, arm l2 would move in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow '4'! in Fig. 8. When the door is opened in Fig. 2, arm !2 due to the action of pawl 2|, rotates ratchet 20 in a clockwise direction. Since the driving disc DD is locked to ratchet 2E), disc DD is now rotated in a clockwise direction and lug 26 of this disc abuts and drives the depending lug 21 of disc LD in a clockwise direction. It follows that disc LD which is retatably mounted on the cylindrical nipple or collar 34 is rotated in a clockwise direction relative to the sleeve or bushing 38.

Although lug 2'! of the rotatable disc ID is driven in a clockwise direction, lug or ear 28 or asms of disc RDfihowever, remains inan abutting relationagainstthestop orboss M (FigQS) due to springBS. Now-as lu'g QT-iis driven clockwise, offset fingers 4-ndrive-the hooked *portion 39- of band "spring *Bs and hence win'ds this spring' up from its" outside convolutionupon opening of the left hand swinging door.

13y the present inveritionfit isapparent the door check is adapted -for*eitheraright or left hand" swinging doorwithout-resorting to-reversing the band spring. 'This" is *an' important feature of "my" invention.

"In'all cases afterthe-"door hasbeen opened the spring remains wound-up until thedoor'is released. If it beassumed that-thedooris of the right handswing type "(Fig-'1) that has been opened and released, the-springautomatically-recoils or' 'unwin'ds butsuch actionis delayed to prevent slamming 'of the "door. Upomexpansi-on or unwinding "ofthe clo'ck"spring,"s'leeve 30*(Fig. 7) 'is' nowrotated' in a clockwise "or 'in areverse dire'ction'by the "action of thespring. Consequently "the driven fdisc RD is now reversely rotated and ear "or lug '2 8 drives lug 26 of the "driving "disc DD '.(Fig. 6) 'towar'dsitsneutral position. It disclDD' is rotated reversely,"th'en.ratchet 20 is correspondingly rotated. "'Hence'through the tracted, thus reversely' rotating "shaft 3' which in turn retracts the reciprocable piston carrying rack R but since 'thelatter'is resisted in its retraction ,by'the oilin thecylinderIC, a braking action is created so that the door is caused to close slowly. This braking action also retards v unwinding of spring BS.

Wherethe leftlhand swinging dooris opened and released,'the clockspringalso unwinds and acts .on .1ug.2'l (Fig.8) of the-driven discLD, causing the latter to rotate towards its neutral position against boss 144. of the housing 'I-IH. Therefore disc DD is reversely..-rotated.,, Ratchet .20 is likewisereversely rotated andlthroughthe action ofpawl 2|, arm IZisretracted reversely rotatingshaft, s=and .consequentlyrack' R. is retracted-but againstthe resistanceof'the oil within cylinderC, 'thuscushioning closing .of .the door. And-of-course .bysuch -actionm-the unwinding .of the spring .BS.-is retarded.

' For purposesofspecification-discs- RD-andLD each may beconsidered as a driven-.membenand disc .DD. as: a driving .member. mBushing. 3n and arm. orilug 4210f disc each maybe. considered as a keeper for retaining. or interlocking with ,the reflexed end portions-tor .hooks -3'l and 39 .ofspringBS. Of course nose orllip 46:01? .bushing'or sleeve 30--Wi1'1dS up-the .spring from its inner. end. The-bushing -3'0..may besaid to :be locked, coupled or :keyedto-the driven:- means 1 or disc -RD.:and the ratchet 20 iscoupled or locked to the driving .disc IDD. Boss :24 is common -to the a driven members or discs LDand .RD and limits-their retractionwhen a left handihung door or a rightl'hand hung door is closed respectively.

Various. changes may be made in 'thedetails of :cons-truction. and. arrangement of parts with- .out'departingfrom the spirit .of the invention or J sacrificing any of the" advantages thereof inherent therein.

1. 'Adoor 'che'ck for cushioning 'theclosing of a door, a-shaft within'said check', a normally unwound spiral spring about said shaft, 'keeper 'meansfor'retaining the innerend'of said spring, means-about-said s'haftfor retaining the outer end-of said spring, rotatable meansresponsive to ithe openingor saidcdoorffor actuating said keeper means ffor winding up :said spring from said inner end, andmeans 1 independent of said rotatable-means for-actuating the latter for winding=upsaid' spring 'from said outer. end.

2.'-"A:door checkrito cushion theclosing of a door, a" shaft within said check, a-normally unwound-spring about-said'shaft,keeper means for retaining -the inner =end of said spring, means about said shaft '-'for retaining theouter end of said spring, rotatable means "responsive to the openingot said -''doorfor actuating saidkeeper means 'for winding 'up said spring from said inner end, displaceable means independent of said rotatable means for- Winding upsaid spring from said outer endgsto means to resist shifting of said displaceablewmeans during'winding up of said spring from said outer end, and stop means to'resist shifting of said-rotatable means durin winding up of said-spring from said inner end.

--3.--n door checkwhereina shaft is rotatably sustained in an hydraul-ic cylinder for "reciprocably guiding a piston carrying rack a'dapted to be a'ctuated by-a gear-on said "shaft rotated by swingable means-secured to a door and said shaft;

comprising, a bushing rotatably surrounding said 'sl'ra ftba-normally unwound spring surrounding said bushing and having an inner end retained bytthe latter, a driven member rotatably mounted relative to said shaft and having'means for retaining theouter=end 'of'said spring; driven means surrounding *said shaft and having means for actuating saiddoushing; a ratchet rotatable relative t'o said shaft; 1 pivoted 1 means: carried by said swingabl e *m'eans for rotating-said ratchet upon opening of=said door, and'a driving-member having'me'ans actuatedby said ratchet-and including means for rotatably 'displacing said driven member-relative-to said drivenmeans to wind up said spring from said outerend or for r'otatably displacingsaid driven means relative to said driven member to wind up said spring from said inner end.

ian-"door check' wherein a shaft is 'rotatably "sustained in an hydraulic cylinder for reciprocaloly "guidinga piston carrying rack adapted to be actuated' 'bya gear'on'said shaft rotated by swingable'meanssecured to a door and said shaft; 'compr'isinga bushing rotatably surrounding said shaft, a normally unwound spring surrounding 'saidbusliingand having an 'inner end retained by the -l'atterya driven member rotatably mounted relative to saidshaft and having depending means -forretaining-the outer end of said spring, "driven means surrounding said shaft and having means coupled to'and-for actuating said bushing, -a ratchetrotatably surrounding said shaft, pivoted meanscarried by said swin-gablemeans for rotating-sa-idratchetupon opening of said door, and a dr'iving member'having'means keyed to said ratchetand including means for rotatably displacing said driven member relative tosaid driven 'm'eans 'to wind up saidspring from said outer end or for'rotatablydisplacing said driven means relati've -tosaiddriven membertowind up said spring fromesaid inner end.

5. A door check wherein a shaft is rotatably sustained in an hydraulic cylinder for recipro- -cably guiding a piston'carrying rack adapted to be --actu ated by I a "gear on said shaft *rotated by swingable-means secured to a door and'saidshaft; comprising, a bushin 'rotatably surrounding said shaft and embodying anon-circular boss having abearing; a normally unwound-spring surround-'- ing said'bushingand having an innerend'retaine'd by the latter, a driven member rotatably guided by said bearing and having means for retaining the outer end of said spring, driven means interlocked with said boss, a ratchet rotatable relative to said shaft, pivoted means carried by said swingable means for rotating said ratchet upon opening of said door, and a driving member having means actuated by said ratchet and including means for rotatably displacing said driven member relative to said driven means to wind up said spring from said outer end or for rotatably displacing said driven means relative to said driven member to wind up said spring from said inner end.

6. A door check wherein a shaft is rotatably sustained in an hydraulic cylinder for reciprocably guiding a piston carrying rack adapted to be actuated by a gear on said shaft rotated by swingable means secured to a door and said shaft; comprising, a bushing rotatably surrounding said shaft, a normally unwound spring surrounding said-bushing and having an inner end retained by the latter, a driven member rotatably mounted relative to said shaft and having means for retaining the outer end of said spring, driven means surrounding said shaft and having means for actuating said bushing, a ratchet rotatable relative to said shaft, pivoted means carried by said swingable means for rotating said ratchet upon opening of said door, a driving member having means actuated by said ratchet and including depending means i for rotatably displacing said driven member relative to said driven means to wind up said spring from said outer end or for rotatably displacin said driven means relative to said driven member to wind up said spring from said inner end, and stop means projecting from said cylinder and straddled by said driven member and driven means to resist displacement of said driven member relative to said driven means upon rotation of the latter or resist displacement of said driven means relative to said driven member upon rotation of the latter.

'7. A door check wherein a shaft is rotatably sustained in an hydraulic cylinder for reciprocably guiding a piston carrying rack adapted to be actuated by a gear on said shaft rotated by swingable means secured to a door and said shaft; comprising, a bushing rotatably surrounding said shaft and including a non-circular boss having a bearing, a normally unwound spring surrounding said bushing and having an inner end retained by the latter, a driven member rotatably guided by said bearing and having means for retaining the outer end of said spring, driven means having means interlocked with said boss, a ratchet rotatable relative to said shaft and having a depending boss, pivoted means carried by said swingable means for rotating said ratchet upon opening of said door, and a driving member having means actuated by said depending boss and including. means for rotatably displacing said driven member relative to said driven means to Wind up said spring from said outer end or for rotatably displacing said driven means relative to said driven member to wind up said spring from said inner end.

8. A door check wherein a shaft is rotatably sustained in an hydraulic cylinder for reciprocably guiding a piston carrying rack adapted to be actuated by a gear on said shaft rotated by swingable means secured to a door and said shaft; comprising, a bushing rotatably guided by said shaft and including a key having a cylindrical and upstanding bearing, a normally unwound spring about said bushing and having an inner end retained by the latter, a driven member rotatably guided by said bearing and having means for retaining the outer end of said spring, driven means having a non-circular opening including walls interlocked with said key, a ratchet rotatable about said shaft and having a depending boss, pivoted means carried by said swingable means for rotating said ratchet relative to said shaft upon opening of said door, and a driving member having means actuated by said depending boss and including means for rotatably displacing said driven member relative to said driven means to Wind up said spring from said outer end or for rotatably displacing said driven means relative to said driven member to Wind up said spring from said inner end.

9. A door check wherein a shaft is rotatably sustained in an hydraulic cylinder for reciprocably guiding a piston carrying rack adapted to be actuated by a gear on said shaft rotated by swingable means secured to a door and said shaft; comprising, a bushing rotatably surrounding said shaft and including a non-circular boss having a bearing, a normally unwound spring surrounding said bushing and having an inner end retamed by the latter, a driven member rotatably guided by said bearing and having depending means for retaining the outer end of said spring, driven means having means interlocked with said boss for bodily rotating with said bushing, a ratchet rotatable relative to said shaft and having a depending key, pivoted means carried by said swingable means for rotating said ratchet upon opening of said door, and a driving member having means actuated by said depending key and including means for rotatably displacing said driven member relative to said driven means to Wind up said spring from said outer end or for rotatably displacing said driven means relative to said driven member to wind up said spring from said inner end.

10. A door check wherein a shaft is rotatably sustained in an hydraulic cylinder for reciprocably guiding a piston carrying rack adapted to be actuated by a gear on said shaft rotated by swingable means secured to a door and said shaft; comprising, a bushing rotatably surrounding said shaft and including a non-circular boss having a terminal and cylindrical bearing, said bushing having a slot and a lip, a normally unwound spring surrounding said bushing and having an inner end disposed in part in said slot and interlocked with said lip, a driven member having an annular portion rotatably guided by said bearing and having depending means for retaining the outer end of said spring, driven means having means interlocked With said boss, a ratchet rotatable relative to said shaft and having a depending boss, pivoted means carried by said swingable means for rotating said ratchet upon opening of said door, and a driving member having means actuated by said depending boss and including means for rotatably displacing said driven member relative to said driven means to wind up said spring from said outer end or for rotatably displacing said driven means relative to said driven member to wind up said spring from said inner end.

11. A door check wherein a shaft is rotatably sustained in an hydraulic cylinder for reciprocably guiding a piston carrying rack adapted to be actuated by a gear on said shaft rotated by swingable means secured to a door and said shaft; comprising, a bushing rotatably surrounding said shaft and including a non-circular boss having 9 a bearing, a normally unwound spring surrounding said bushing and having an inner end retained by the latter, a driven member rotatably guided by said bearing and having depending means interlocked with the outer end of said spring, driven means having means interlocked with said boss, a ratchet rotatable relative to said shaft and having a depending boss, pivoted means carried by said swingable means for rotating said ratchet upon opening of said door, and a driving member having means actuated by said depending boss and including depending means for rotatably displacing said driven member relative to said driven means to wind up said spring from said outer end or for rotatably displacing said driven means relative to said driven member to wind up said spring from said inner end.

12. A door check wherein a shaft is rotatably sustained in an hydraulic cylinder for reciprocably guiding a piston carrying ratchet adapted to be actuated by a gear on said shaft rotated by swingable means secured to a door and said shaft; comprising, a bushing rotatably surrounding said shaft and including a non-circular boss having an annular bearing, a normally unwound spring surrounding said bushing and having an inner end retained by the latter, a driven disc rotatably 10' guided by said bearing and having a depending lug including spaced fingers for retaining the outer end of said spring, a driven disc having means interlocked with said boss and including an ear, a ratchet rotatable relative to said shaft and having a depending boss, pivoted means carried by said swingable means for rotating said ratchet upon opening of said door, and a driving disc having means actuated by said depending boss and including an extension for abutting said depending lug for rotatably displacing said first mentioned disc relative to said driving disc to Wind up said spring from said outer end or for displacing said ear for rotatably actuating said driving disc relative to said second mentioned disc to wind up said spring from said inner end.

JOHN HINES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 711,685 Watt Oct. 21, 1902 1,688,428 Morgan Oct. 23, 1928 

